Security fund reforms and farmers taxation will be the stress test for the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition with the coming of the new year.
The representatives of Greece’s lenders return in the first days of 2016 in order to negotiate the “hot” issues of security fund reforms and farmers taxation. It is estimated that the coalition will have a hard time to pass the new bills in parliament with all opposition parties having already declared that they will vote against.
The first assessment of the progress of Greek economy will take place on January 18th. This will determine the next tranche of the bailout loan, which amounts to 5.7 billion euros.
Athens has to make painful changes in pensions, such as cuts and merging of insurance funds, in order to save 1.7 billion euros as dictated by the third bailout program.
The Greek government also has to make changes in direct taxation, such as new taxes on farmers. Lenders will also see if the taxation measures already taken – such as VAT hikes and excise tax on wine – have brought the desirable results.
Furthermore, the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition has to legislate on television licensing. This might open a new front with mass media owners who saw their revenues shrink at alarming rates since the economic crisis hit.
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